Calvin's 5th birthday and LEGO party

  Didn't want to put off sharing Calvin's birthday and party from two weeks ago any longer.  It was such a fun and festive two days, and I finally feel like I've fully recovered from having visitors in town, putting normal on hold, and throwing a big ole party.  Of course, I would do it again in a heart beat.  Watching your little ones get loved on big time once each year is a treat.

  Calvin woke up the morning of his birthday to his two favorite people (Auntie and Uncle Randy) and favorite breakfast (blueberry muffins and sausage).  He was very excited about life to say the least.

  He opened all of his presents from out-of-towners on his birthday.  He had been getting packages for a week or so leading up to it and he was so excited to finally be able to open them.

The first of MANY Lego sets.

Red Robin for dinner.

Apple pie was the official dessert.

  Fast forward to the next evening which was his Lego birthday party.  We went back and forth on a lot of themes, but when I mentioned this theme he did not waver one bit.

  There were two crafts for the kids.  One, paint your own lego men.  I thought this was going to be more of a hit than it was.  I think they were excited to do it, but they were more excited about their friends and izze sodas.

  Second, each kid took a picture as a lego man.  I take that back, almost each kid took their picture as a lego man.  A handful of girls wouldn't be caught dead as a lego "man."  I should have also made a pretty, pretty princess pink lego girl, or at least a girl.  Whoops.  :)

Then they decorated their picture frames.

  Couldn't be as perfectly Lego-themed for food for such a large crowd, so the closest I got was "build your own" burritos or tacos.  There were all sorts of options to keep everyone full and happy!  My personal favorite is our tried and true Mexican Pot Roast Tacos with red cabbage slaw and avocado slices.

  Someone else built a fire and I was prepared with all of the s'more fixings because I was hoping we would have a fire.  This has become such a fun tradition!

  The guys had all of the kids playing in the "gym" at the end of the party while the ladies chatted in the adjacent room.

  What a fun party!  I can't believe Calvino Bambino is 5.  Remember when we used to call him that?  He was such a cute bambino.  When Calvin woke up saturday morning he asked me how old he was. :)  I was cracking up.  Either he was still delirious from all of the fun, or better yet he was wondering if you turn 5 on your birthday and then another year older at your party.  I told him he was 5, and he tells EVERYONE that now as well.  Birthdays are so fun!

Have a great thursday!